September 13, 2009
Health Sciences Campus, Kochi
The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) recently became part of the INDOX consortium that brings together India’s leading oncologists for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. The consortium includes eight leading cancer centers in India and the Institute of Cancer Medicine at Oxford University of UK. It is estimated that by the year 2020, India will be home to about 2 million new cancer cases each year.
“The fruits of synergy are always greater than individual efforts and when this synergy is directed to the well being of mankind, the impact increases manifold,” stated Dr. T. S. Ganesan, PI from Amrita, who is spearheading Amrita’s participation in the consortium. Prior to joining Amrita, Dr. Ganesan was Professor and Medical Oncologist at Oxford University. “We are already conducting Phase I, II and III clinical trials for common cancers, particularly those that are more prevalent in India.”
Cancers of the head and neck, cervical, gastric, gall bladder and oesophageal cancer, as well as breast and colorectal cancer, are being studied. Research will also aim at understanding the causes of these common cancers to discover risk factors. “Over the past 3 years, INDOX has established itself as India’s leading academic oncology network,” further stated Dr. Ganesan. “The network works closely with collaborators at every stage of the research process and provides infrastructural support.”
The other Indian hospitals in the consortium include Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (Delhi), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Delhi), Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Hyderabad), Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (Bangalore), Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), Regional Cancer Centre (Trivandrum), Christian Medical College (Vellore) and G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital (Coimbatore). Together these centers see about ten thousand new patients every year.
The network has provided training and fellowships to over 30 Indian clinicians and scientists. Amrita looks forward also to receiving the support of the consortium in both its investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical and other research projects.
